Tire Inflation Testing Installation Patents (Class 73/146.2)
  • Patent number: 7551992
    Abstract: A method for detecting decompression of tires based on the rotational speed of wheels mounted on a vehicle, comprising the steps of: detecting the rotational speed of each of the above-mentioned wheels, determining the speed against ground of the vehicle, calculating the speed information of a fixed wheel from the rotational speeds of said wheels, calculating the judgment value of the wheel position by comparing the speed information of the wheels with the speed against ground of the vehicle, comparing the judgment value of the wheel position with the basis value of the wheel position obtained by preliminarily comparing the speed against ground of the vehicle with the speed information of the wheels at prescribed inner pressure, and judging decompression of tires based on relation between the comparison value of the basis value with the judgment value and a fixed threshold. A region of judging decompression of tires can be broadened and the accuracy of reduced pressure judgment can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Kitano
  • Publication number: 20090151441
    Abstract: A tire pressure adjusting system of a vehicle includes: a sensor mounted in a tire, to measure pressure and/or temperature of air in the tire, and to send a signal corresponding to the pressure and/or temperature; a magnetic field generator mounted on the vehicle body near the tire, to receive the signal from the sensor, and to generate a magnetic field; a current generator mounted in the tire, to generate electricity by using the magnetic field; and an electric heating member mounted in the tire, to generate heat by using the electricity supplied from the current generator, thereby heating the air in the tire. A method of controlling tire pressure includes determining whether the pressure is too low; and, if the pressure is too low, heating air in the tire until the pressure is not too low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sungik Yim, Hoon Kim
  • Publication number: 20090145215
    Abstract: A measuring method for measuring physical variables comprises the selection of a working point (AP) lying within a total measurement range (G) of a physical variable (M) to be measured, the detection of a measured value (M(t1)) of the physical variable at a first measuring time (t1), the determination of a displacement value (V(t1)) as the result of a subtraction of the measured value (M(t1)) measured at the first measuring time from the working point (AP), the formation of change values (C(t2), C(t3) . . . C(tx)) of the physical variable (M) by acquiring subsequent measured values (M(t2), M(t3) . . . M(tx)) of the physical variable at subsequent measuring times (t2, t3 . . . tx) and addition of the displacement value (V(t1)) to the subsequent measured values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Bernhard Georg SPIESS
  • Patent number: 7541916
    Abstract: A power supply using a static magnetic field of a tire pressure monitoring system is provided. The power supply includes: a static magnetic field generator installed at a car position adjacent to a tire, and generating the static magnetic field; and an EMF (ElectroMotive Force) coil installed at the tire, and generating an induced electromotive force by the generated static magnetic field and a relative motion resulting from rotation of the tire, and providing the generated electromotive force to the transmitter and the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Hyundai Autonet Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Hoon Choi, Dong Pil Chun, Dae Hyuk Kwon, Sang Kook Kim, Heu Kyong Na, Won Jo Lee
  • Patent number: 7535362
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement is provided for a power supply to a transponder including an antenna resonant circuit and a downstream rectifier circuit for receiving and for rectifying an electromagnetic signal, a charging capacitor connected downstream on the output side of the rectifier circuit to provide a first supply voltage, with a tuning circuit for tuning the antenna resonant circuit to its resonance frequency, and with an auxiliary voltage source, which is designed to provide a second supply voltage, lower than the first supply voltage, for supplying the tuning circuit. A method is also provided for supplying power to a transponder with a first supply voltage, as well as a transponder having a circuit arrangement for a power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: ATMEL Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Moser, Helmut Moser
  • Patent number: 7528706
    Abstract: A system and method for tire pressure monitoring. The system includes a receiver having a storage memory, and a transmitter corresponding to a tire. The storage memory includes a set of unique identifier. The transmitter includes a programmable memory. The receiver is configured to receive a signal, determine when the signal corresponds to a member of the set of unique identifiers, and process the signal when the signal corresponds to a member of the set of unique identifiers. The transmitter is configured to receive a unique member of the set of unique identifiers, store the unique member in the programmable memory, and transmit a signal corresponding to the unique member and the air pressure in the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Riad Ghabra, Tom Q. Tang, John S. Nantz
  • Patent number: 7526952
    Abstract: A tire wheel having an air pressure regulator capable of immediately varying the air pressure of a tire of a vehicle in accordance with external environments is disclosed. To regulate the internal air pressure of the tire, the air pressure regulator includes a vacuum chamber, an ultra-high pressure chamber, and a generator for generating electricity to drive the air pressure regulator. The air pressure regulator is actuated by a force generated when the tire is pressed by the ground during the rolling of the tire. An electronic controller collects data obtained by various sensors, and communicates with a central processing unit in a wireless manner. The central processing unit processes the collected data. The driver can monitor all tire states, and can set a control mode associated with the air pressure of the tire. It is possible to deflate the tire in a moment in accordance with the vacuum pressure of the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Inventor: Jae Won Cho
  • Patent number: 7522032
    Abstract: Provided is a method for detecting decrease in an inner pressure of a tire with excellent accuracy by calculating accurate dynamic load radii by comparing the GPS speed information with tire rotational speed information collecting data only when a stable measurement of the dynamic load radii is possible, as well as by utilizing GPS positioning information for a running state of a vehicle, and an apparatus and a program thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Nakao
  • Patent number: 7518495
    Abstract: A universal monitor to be mounted in a tire of a vehicle, the monitor for use in a remote tire pressure monitoring system for the vehicle. The monitor includes a sensor for sensing tire pressure, and a storage device for storing a plurality of codes, each code comprising at least a data format. The monitor also includes a transmitter in communication with the sensor and the storage device, the transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal including data representing the sensed tire pressure. The wireless signal is transmitted by the transmitter according to at least one of the stored plurality of codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Tom Tang, John Nantz, Riad Ghabra, Thomas LeMense, Ronald King, Jan Supronowicz
  • Patent number: 7513145
    Abstract: A tire pressure detecting device fixed to a wheel with a tire includes a pressure sensor detecting an internal pressure of the tire and transmits data of detection by the pressure sensor to a vehicle body by radio. The tire pressure detecting device further includes a compensation data storage storing compensation data for detection error specific to the pressure sensor and a compensation data transmitter obtaining the compensation data from the compensation data storage, transmitting the obtained compensation data to the vehicle body by radio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiya Katou, Yasuaki Hattori
  • Publication number: 20090071237
    Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for detecting and monitoring tire deformation. In one embodiment, a tire deformation detection system comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, circuitry, and a central control unit. The first electrode is coupled to an interior surface of a tire. The second electrode is coupled to an interior surface of the tire and configured with the first electrode to form a first capacitor. The circuitry is configured to measure a first capacitance of the first capacitor. The central control unit is configured to detect a deformation of the tire based at least in part on the first capacitance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Dirk HAMMERSCHMIDT, Terje KVISTEROEY
  • Patent number: 7497114
    Abstract: A measuring method for measuring physical variables comprises—the selection of a working point (AP) lying within a total measurement range (G) of a physical variable (M) to be measured,—the detection of a measured value (M(t1)) of the physical variable at a first measuring time (t1),—the determination of a displacement value (V(t1)) as the result of a subtraction of the measured value (M(t1)) measured at the first measuring time from the working point (AP),—the formation of change values (C(t2), C(t3) . . . C(tx)) of the physical variable (M) by acquiring subsequent measured values (M(t2), M(t3) . . . M(tx)) of the physical variable at subsequent measuring times (t2, t3 . . . tx) and addition of the displacement value (V(t1)) to the subsequent measured values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Bernhard Georg Spiess
  • Publication number: 20090021242
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for measuring a quantity representing the rotational speed of a motor vehicle wheel (14ag, 14ad, 14rg, 14rd), comprising means (22ag, 22ad, 22rg, 22rd) for coding and measuring the rotational speed in the form of electromagnetic pulses, means (24) for determining a time interval including a whole number of said pulses, and means (24) for counting the whole number of said pulses during said time interval. Said device comprises means (24) for determining a quantity representing the radius of the wheel and means (24) for determining said quantity based on the whole number of pulses, on the time interval and on the quantity representing the radius of the wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA
    Inventors: Zahir Djama, Denis Le Bret
  • Patent number: 7479873
    Abstract: A tire sensor that communicates to a remote interrogator in one of two modes depending on the nature of the interrogation. The interrogator may be distributed throughout a vehicle if needed for design options. Further, the interrogator only interrogates the transponder when the interrogator has reason to believe that the transponder is in range of the interrogator. The interrogator and transponder may be configured to operate in different modes for communication during operation of the tire on a vehicle and during non-operation. The transponder may communicate tire condition information to the interrogator concerning environmental or other information sensed about the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC
    Inventor: Ian J Forster
  • Publication number: 20090013773
    Abstract: A transmission device for motor vehicles for transmitting signals about tire condition variables from a wheel to an electronic evaluating or control unit arranged in the area of the vehicle body, wherein the tire condition variables can be detected especially by one or a plurality of sensor subassemblies (14) which are arranged in a wheel rotatably mounted at the body above the wheel hub (3), characterized in that a coupling device is integrated into the wheel hub, which is composed of a rotor (6a) and a non-rotating stator (6b) to generate a field coupling, and whose one or more field coupling elements (20, 22, 27a, 27b, 29a, 29b, 30a, 30b, 34a, 34b, 39a, 39b, 42, 43) are opposite each other, separated by a narrow air slot (24), and an energy and/or signal coupling takes place by way of electric fields and/or magnetic fields, and/or electromagnetic fields, is meant to determine the rotational speed of the wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG CO. OHG
    Inventor: Heinrich Acker
  • Publication number: 20090012439
    Abstract: A semiconductor sensor device is electrically coupled to an object. An attachment member attaches the semiconductor sensor device to the object. The attachment member comprises a first conductive contact region and a second conductive contact region. An insulating portion is electrically isolates the semiconductor sensor device from the first conductive contact region and second conductive contact region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang STADLER, Harald Gossner, Reinhold Gaertner
  • Patent number: 7456732
    Abstract: A vehicle monitoring system comprises a tire pressure sensor, a transmitter coupled to the tire pressure sensor for wirelessly transmitting a signal indicative of a tire pressure; and a receiver for receiving the signal indicative of the tire pressure and for receiving a signal of a remote keyless entry device. The system further comprises a controller coupled to the receiver for processing the signal indicative of the tire pressure and outputting a status signal, and a status indicator for receiving the status signal and indicating a tire pressure status according to the status signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Audiovox Corporation
    Inventor: James R. Tranchina
  • Patent number: 7453350
    Abstract: A system for monitoring conditions within a tire includes a sensor assemblies (14). The sensor assemblies (14) emit a transmission (26) containing information indicative of conditions within a tire to a receiver (16). The transmission (26) from the sensor assemblies (14) includes an amplitude shift key wake up portion and various data packet portions. The data packet portions are separated by a variable interval to prevent collisions of transmissions at the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia Kachouh, Tejas B. Desai, Kurt VanDrus
  • Patent number: 7444859
    Abstract: Method of allowing control of a vehicle provided with at least two wheels in case of puncture of a tire, each wheel having a rim and a tire associated therewith, including the steps of inflating each tire to an operating pressure at a reference temperature; admitting a fluid compressed to a first pressure higher than the operating pressure of the tire at the reference temperature into at least one tank associated with at least one of the rims; bringing the tire into communication with the tank when the inner pressure of the tire is lower than the operating pressure by a predetermined first threshold value; measuring the inner pressure of the tire with a predetermined frequency; calculating a variation of the inner pressure in the time unit; generating an alarm signal when the variation of the inner pressure corresponds to a reduction and is higher than a predetermined value; and transmitting the alarm signal to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Massimo Filippi, Renato Caretta
  • Patent number: 7446525
    Abstract: A magnetic pressure sensing device for rotatably moving parts, of the type including at least one magnetic field source element associated to said rotatably moving part and a magnetic field sensing element associated to a fixed part to measure parameters of a magnetic field determined by said magnetic field source element, said parameters of the magnetic field being a function of the pressure applied to said rotatably moving part. The magnetic field source element includes means for rotating around at least one axis the direction of said magnetic field as a function of the pressure applied to said rotatably moving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: CRF Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventor: Daniele Pullini
  • Publication number: 20080266073
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the fill-up of a vehicle tire to the cold inflation pressure recommended for a cold tire condition. The method includes establishing a calibration temperature that corresponds to temperature of air in a cold tire condition, determining that air is being added to the tire, measuring the temperature of the air in the tire and adjusting the measured tire pressure to compensate for the difference between the measured temperature and the calibration temperature corresponding to a cold inflation temperature, comparing the adjusted pressure with the manufacturer's recommended pressure cold inflation pressure to determine that the recommended tire pressure has been obtained and generating a signal cognizable by the operator outside the vehicle so that the operator will cease filling the tire when the pressure is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Tu, James L. Duffy
  • Publication number: 20080264161
    Abstract: A measuring method for measuring physical variables comprises—the selection of a working point (AP) lying within a total measurement range (G) of a physical variable (M) to be measured,—the detection of a measured value (M(t1)) of the physical variable at a first measuring time (t1),—the determination of a displacement value (V(t1)) as the result of a subtraction of the measured value (M(t1)) measured at the first measuring time from the working point (AP),—the formation of change values (C(t2), C(t3) . . . C(tx)) of the physical variable (M) by acquiring subsequent measured values (M(t2), M(t3) . . . M(tx)) of the physical variable at subsequent measuring times (t2, t3 . . . tx) and addition of the displacement value (V(t1)) to the subsequent measured values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Bernhard Georg Spiess
  • Patent number: 7441464
    Abstract: A strain gauge sensor system and method for measuring the strain in a member, such as a fiber rope, has a sensor target assembly having a plurality of magnets carried spaced apart by individual gauge lengths along the member. Position and trigger sensor devices are configured spaced apart along side a desired path of travel of the member. When the member is fed along the desired path of travel, the trigger sensor device, in response to magnetically sensing a passing magnet, triggers the position sensor device to read the position of an adjacent passing magnet. The strain in the gauge length is determined from the read position. RFID tags placed on the member between the magnets can be identified by an RF reader to identify a particular gauge length being measured. The system can include a deployment device for feeding the member along the desired path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Turnbull, Wenwei Zhang
  • Patent number: 7437920
    Abstract: A tire inflation method is disclosed for moving air through a fluid control circuit to at least one tire that is below a target pressure. The dynamic pressure of the moving air in the fluid control circuit is monitored. A pressure control valve in the fluid control circuit is cycled on and off to prevent the dynamic pressure from reaching a predetermined amount over the target pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: James A. Beverly, Stephen P. Claussen, Daryl J. Stacer
  • Patent number: 7432801
    Abstract: A method of detecting a rapid leak of gas contained in an automobile tire based on periodic measurements of a pressure Pa and a temperature Ta of the gas. The method includes determining a reference pressure Pcref, calculating an alarm threshold pressure Sref from the reference pressure Pcref, calculating a temperature-compensated pressure Pc at each measurement acquisition period, and comparing the compensated pressure Pc with the alarm threshold pressure Sref, wherein the leak is detected if the compensated pressure Pc is less than the alarm threshold pressure Sref.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Automotive Electronics
    Inventors: Cyrille Verrier, Regis Leberon
  • Patent number: 7430900
    Abstract: An inflation system is disclosed for automobile tires, bicycle tires, and other inflatable articles, wherein the inflating pump reads information from a microchip associated with the valve stem in the inflatable article, in order to inflate the tire or other inflatable article to the correct pressure. In one embodiment, the microchip contains one pressure level which the inflating pump reads and fills the inflatable article to. In another embodiment, the microchip contains several different pressure levels—based on different conditions—which the inflating pump reads, and the pump fills the inflatable article to the particular pressure level selected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Inventor: John Belanger
  • Patent number: 7425892
    Abstract: A tire inflation pressure sensing apparatus according to the invention includes a plurality of transmitters, each of which is provided on one of a plurality of wheels of a vehicle, and a receiver provided on a body of the vehicle. Each transmitter includes a pressure sensor working to generate a pressure signal representative of an inflation pressure of a tire on a corresponding one of the wheels and a noise receiver working to receive a noise generated by a noise source in the vehicle. Each transmitter is configured to transmit the pressure signal and the received noise to the receiver. The receiver is configured to determine the inflation pressures of tires based on the pressure signals and make a determination for each of the transmitters as to whether the transmitter is provided on a front-wheel or a rear-wheel of the vehicle based on a level of the corresponding received noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Mori, Nobuya Watabe, Ryouzou Okumura
  • Publication number: 20080216566
    Abstract: A reusable tire pressure sensor assembly comprises a housing member 1 having a first surface by means of which the housing member 1 is permanently attachable to a surface within the pressurised region of a wheel/tire assembly and an aperture 7 formed in the surface remote from said first surface by means of which a pocket 5 is formed between the housing 1 and the surface is accessible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventor: Paul Edward Vickery
  • Publication number: 20080208515
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system for determining inflating pressure of tires mounted on a motor vehicle front and rear wheels. Said system comprises means (12, 14) for acquiring inflating pressures of the front and rear wheels, means (16, 18) for acquiring vertical accelerations of the front and rear wheels, and means (32) for emerging the acquired pressures and the acquired accelerations to estimate the inflating pressures of the front and rear tires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2006
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA
    Inventor: Zahir Djama
  • Publication number: 20080190188
    Abstract: A tire wheel having an air pressure regulator capable of immediately varying the air pressure of a tire of a vehicle in accordance with external environments is disclosed. To regulate the internal air pressure of the tire, the air pressure regulator includes a vacuum chamber, an ultra-high pressure chamber, and a generator for generating electricity to drive the air pressure regulator. The air pressure regulator is actuated by a force generated when the tire is pressed by the ground during the rolling of the tire. An electronic controller collects data obtained by various sensors, and communicates with a central processing unit in a wireless manner. The central processing unit processes the collected data. The driver can monitor all tire states, and can set a control mode associated with the air pressure of the tire. It is possible to deflate the tire in a moment in accordance with the vacuum pressure of the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Jae Won CHO
  • Patent number: 7412312
    Abstract: A system for automatically determining a public transport vehicle emergency braking characteristics, in particular of a railway vehicle, includes elements (1) for measuring the vehicle speed, elements (2) for measuring the distance travelled by it, and elements (3) for triggering an emergency braking of the vehicle to actuate its braking elements (4). The system includes elements for detecting (5) the activation of the elements (3) triggering the emergency braking and elements for detecting (5) when the vehicle stops, adapted to activate/deactivate the operation of elements (9) acquiring data concerning the speed and the distance travelled by the vehicle for a time interval running between the activation of the emergency triggering elements and the moment the vehicle stops, and elements (9) for analyzing the data to deliver at least a information concerning the distance travelled by the vehicle during the time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Regie Autonome des Transports Parisiens
    Inventors: Julien Leblanc, Bruno Perrin, Vincent Poupinet
  • Publication number: 20080177498
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system for determining inflating pressures of tires mounted on a motor vehicle wheels, this system comprising means (12, 13) for acquiring vertical accelerations of a front wheel and of a rear wheel of the vehicle and means (34) for estimating coefficients of stiffness of the tires of said wheels based on the acquired accelerations on another of the acquired accelerations, and in that the estimation means (34) are adapted to estimate these coefficients of stiffness based on the thus temporally reset accelerations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: PEUGEOT CITROEN AUTOMOBILES SA
    Inventor: Zahir Djama
  • Patent number: 7403105
    Abstract: A tire inflation pressure sensing apparatus includes a pressure sensor, a transmitter, a transceiver, a receiver, and a determining device. The pressure sensor and transceiver are provided on a wheel of a vehicle, while the transmitter, receiver, and determining device are provided on the body of the vehicle. The pressure sensor works to generate a pressure signal representative of the inflation pressure of a tire on the wheel. The transmitter works to send out a predetermined radio wave. The transceiver is configured to receive the predetermined radio wave and send out the pressure signal when a transmission of the pressure signal is required and a level of the received predetermined radio wave has reached a predetermined level. The receiver works to receive the pressure signal from the transceiver. The determining device is configured to determine the inflation pressure of the tire based on the pressure signal received via the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuya Watabe
  • Patent number: 7398176
    Abstract: An electronic vehicle tester includes a battery tester configured to measure a parameter of a battery of a vehicle. A tire tester is configured to receive a parameter of a tire of the vehicle. A wireless receiver can be configured to receive pressure information from a transmitter associated with a tire of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Midtronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin I. Bertness
  • Patent number: 7397352
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for localising the position of at least two emission units, especially for monitoring at least one parameter for a plurality of wheels pertaining to a motor vehicle. The average power of the reception signals of a central evaluation and control unit (5) is detected. The aim of the invention is to improve the reliability of a correct localisation. To this end, at least two association criteria are used to associate the reception signals or emission units with positions or regions, when the examination of a reliability criterion for the first association criterion does not produce a sufficiently high reliability for the association carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Fischer, Jürgen Spotka
  • Patent number: 7388478
    Abstract: A sensor detects values of inflation pressure of a tire of a vehicle one after another. A controller calculates, from the values of the tire inflation pressure, a deflation rate at which the tire is deflating per unit time. When the deflation rate is higher than a first predetermined value, the controller judges that the tire is suddenly punctuated. When the deflation rate is not higher than the first predetermined value but is higher than a second predetermined value, the controller judges that the tire is deteriorated. When the deflation rate is not higher than the second predetermined value, the controller judges that compressed air is naturally leaked from the tire. An alarm unit gives an alarm indicating punctuation or deterioration of the tire or natural air leaking in response to the judgment of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuya Watabe
  • Publication number: 20080140276
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of indirect tire pressure monitoring. The method includes: learning test variables (DIAG, SIDE, AXLE), which describe the rotational movements of the wheels; determining rolling circumference differences (?DIAG, ?SIDE, ?AXLE) from actually determined test variables and the learnt test variables; learning at least one torsion natural frequency fp for at least one tire from the oscillation behavior of the individual tires; determining at least one shift of the torsion natural frequency ?fp from at least one actually determined torsion natural frequency and from the at least one learnt torsion natural frequency; and combining the rolling circumference differences (?DIAG, ?SIDE, ?AXLE) with the at least one shift of the torsion natural frequency fp in a joint warning strategy for detecting and warning of tire inflation pressure loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AG
    Inventors: Martin Griesser, Andreas Kobe, Frank Edling, Vladimir Koukes, Lennert Gootjes, Joachim Kohn, Ines Runge, Maik Hofmann, Jorg Cunz
  • Patent number: 7379800
    Abstract: Wheel assembly with a tire pressure monitoring system includes a wheel rim, a tire mounted thereon, a housing having an interior in flow communication with the tire interior such that the same pressure prevails in the tire and in the housing interior, a magnet arranged in the housing and movable in an axial direction of the tire, a Hall effect sensor arranged on a non-rotating part of the vehicle in a position in which it is in a magnetic field generated by the magnet during rotation of the tire relative to the non-rotating part, and a spring arranged to move the magnet in dependence on pressure in the housing interior. The spring is arranged outside of the magnet. The Hall effect sensor senses magnetic field density of the magnet as the magnet rotates which is convertible into an indication of the pressure in the housing and thus the tire pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Automotive Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Breed
  • Patent number: 7370524
    Abstract: A control system and method for actively reducing vibration in a spindle housing caused by unbalance forces on a rotating spindle, by measuring the force-induced spindle-housing motion, determining control signals based on synchronous demodulation, and provide compensation for the measured displacement to cancel or otherwise reduce or attenuate the vibration. In particular, the synchronous demodulation technique is performed to recover a measured spindle housing displacement signal related only to the rotation of a machine tool spindle, and consequently rejects measured displacement not related to spindle motion or synchronous to a cycle of revolution. Furthermore, the controller actuates at least one voice-coil (VC) motor, to cancel the original force-induced motion, and adapts the magnitude of voice coil signal until this measured displacement signal is brought to a null. In order to adjust the signal to a null, it must have the correct phase relative to the spindle angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventor: David James Hopkins
  • Patent number: 7370523
    Abstract: A deformation of a rotating tire on a road surface is calculated the following. At first, time series data of acceleration extracted from measurement data of acceleration corresponding to one round of tire rotation is subjected to a time integration of second order to obtain displacement data so as to calculate the deformation at the tread portion. The time series data of acceleration and the displacement data in the non-contact region excluding a road surface contact region on the tire circumference at the tread portion are respectively approximated to calculate a first and a second approximation curves. The two approximation curves are subtracted respectively from the time series data of acceleration and the calculated displacement data, thereby extracting time series data of acceleration due to tire deformation and obtaining the deformation at the tread portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kitazaki, Naoshi Miyashita, Noritaka Koguchi
  • Patent number: 7362218
    Abstract: A tire monitor for mounting to a vehicle as part of a remote tire monitoring system includes a tire condition sensor to produce a tire condition signal, a controller coupled to the tire condition sensor to control operation of the tire monitor, and a radio circuit coupled to the controller to transmit radio signals based at least in part on the tire condition signal. A shock sensor is coupled to the controller of the tire monitor to produce a motion signal indicating motion of the tire monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Schrader Bridgeport International, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Kenneth McCall, William David Stewart
  • Patent number: 7352276
    Abstract: A transmitter in an apparatus for monitoring a condition of a tire of a vehicle includes a circuit portion and a casing that accommodates the circuit portion. The casing has a first pressure transmitting portion that transmits the pressure in the tire to the circuit portion so that the circuit portion can detect the pressure in the tire. The pressure transmitted to the circuit portion through the first pressure transmitting portion produces force that presses the circuit portion. The casing further has a second pressure transmitting portion that transmits the pressure in the tire to the circuit portion to apply force that acts against the pressing force to the circuit portion. Therefore, the transmitter prevents a substrate from flexing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Pacific Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michiya Katou
  • Patent number: 7348878
    Abstract: A tire pressure management system for a tractor/trailer system uses exterior sidewall mounted tire RFID tags, valve mounted tire pressure sensors and transmitters, radio repeaters, a tire pressure management system receiver with controller area network interface, a body computer for execution of software modules of the system and a controller area network for carrying data between the body computer and tire pressure management system receiver. The system provides varying functionality depending upon which elements are present. To deal with absence of a tractor, variation in the complimentary TPMS components installed on the tractor, or lack of any complimentary TPMS components installed on the tractor a trailer mounted repeater includes sufficient local processing power and display capability to alert users of any tire pressure problem on the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Fogelstrom
  • Patent number: 7333008
    Abstract: A tire deflation warning system having a means for detecting the rotational speeds of wheels on a vehicle and a means for judging tires with reduced air pressure from the rotational speed information of the wheels including a means for judging whether driving force works to respective wheels or not a means for calculating a vehicle speed when driving force works to respective wheels, a means for comparing the average of the rotational speeds of the driving wheels against the average of the rotational speeds of the following wheels, with the average of the rotational speeds of the driving wheels against the average of the rotational speeds of the following wheels at normal air pressure in running state in which the vehicle has driving force and a means for judging that the air pressures of the all wheels which are mounted on the vehicle are simultaneously reduced, or that the air pressures of the driving wheels are reduced by the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Minao Yanase
  • Patent number: 7327243
    Abstract: A method for warning deflation of tires which can detect the deflation of 2 wheels at the same axle including a following axle, the simultaneous deflation of 4 wheels or the abrasion of tires only by the information of wheel speeds is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7327244
    Abstract: A valve device includes a metal tube fixed to a tire rim of a vehicle. A valve is mounted in an end of an air passageway of the metal tube. A transmitter includes two switches respectively connected to two contact members fixed on the metal tube. A Bourdon tube includes a fixed end in communication with the air passageway of the metal tube and a movable end. When a tire pressure of the tire is in a normal range, the movable end of the Bourdon tube is between the contact members, leading to an open circuit. When the tire pressure is too high or too low, the movable end of the Bourdon tube is in contact with one of the contact members. One of the switches is turned on to activate the transmitter to send a signal for reminding the driver of the abnormal tire pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Inventor: Hui-Cheng Chung
  • Patent number: 7289021
    Abstract: Apparatus and method in the use thereof attaches an annular transponder unit to an annular tire surface, the transponder unit being of a type having a sensor housing coupled to an annular antenna. The apparatus includes a rotary turntable for supportably rotating a tire having an annular tire surface in an accessible disposition and an arm proximately disposed to the turntable and having end-of-arm tooling for attaching the transponder unit section by section to the annular tire surface as the tire is rotated. The tooling includes a gripping mechanism engaging the sensor housing and placing the sensor housing at a preselected location on the annular tire surface and a guide mechanism engaging the annular antenna and positioning the annular antenna section by section along the annular tire surface as the tire is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Weaver, Joseph Carmine Lettieri, Gary Edwin Tubb, Dwayne Richard Huston, James Michael Hart, William Allen Rex, Robert Allen Birch
  • Patent number: 7284418
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a tire pressure sensor assembly that includes a battery and a printed circuit board (PCB) configured with electronics to measure tire pressure and to transmit an electromagnetic signal related to the measured tire pressure. The PCB and battery are contained in a housing that allows the PCB and the battery to be angularly oriented with respect to each other. Such orientation permits the sensor to conform to the curved surface of the rim. An embodiment of the disclosed tire pressure sensor assembly is adapted to fasten to a valve stem via a metal terminal. The attachment configuration permits the valve stem assembly to deform as the valve stem is installed in a rim and also allows the valve stem to function as a portion of the antenna structure to facilitate transmitting the RF signal to a receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Temic Automotive of North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Yin, Jen-Huang A. Chiou, John T. Meagher
  • Patent number: 7269530
    Abstract: A wireless transmission method for tire detection signals increases the percentage of successfully received tire detection signals received by the receiving unit and extends the usage life of batteries. A delay time for emitting the tire detection signals via the detection unit is calculated according to the acceleration of the tire. The operation time for one rotation of the tire is divided into several equal periods. Then, the tire detection signals are emitted to the receiving unit via a wireless transmission method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen-Wei Lin, Meng-Cheih Lu
  • Publication number: 20070204685
    Abstract: Method for determining the load condition of a vehicle (60) moving at non-zero speed, the vehicle being equipped with a plurality of tire-wheel assemblies (41-42, 51-52) mounted on at least two axles and with devices that enable determination of the vehicle's speed and the rotation frequencies or speeds and actual inflation pressures of at least two tire-wheel assemblies mounted on two different axles of the vehicle, the method comprising the following stages: (A) determination of the inflation pressures and rotation frequencies of two tire-wheel assemblies mounted on two different axles; (B) calculation of the load difference between the two tire-wheel assemblies from the vehicle's speed and the rotation frequencies of the two tire-wheel assemblies, taking into account the actual inflation pressures; (C) determination of the load condition by comparing the calculated load difference with at least one predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicants: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., TRW Automotive U.S., LLC.
    Inventor: Philippe Corniot